Cellulose nanocrystals isolated from South African invasive wood species

Date
2018-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The increased use of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) due to their high strength, environmentally friendly and renewable source presents a possibility to add value to the potential waste product of South African invasive trees. This material, with its superior characteristics, has been used in a variety of applications including heart valves, microelectronics pumps and liquid crystal displays (LCD). In this study CNCs obtained from two invasive hardwood species, namely acacia, eucalyptus were compared to CNCs isolated from commercial cellulose, with an unknown wood source and from pine, a softwood. CNCs were synthesised via acid hydrolysis and then characterised with Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). No clear difference was determined between hardwoods and softwoods and CNCs synthesised from invasive tree species were found to be similar, if not superior, to CNCs from commercial cellulose
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die toenemende gebruik van sellulose-nanokristalle (CNC) as gevolg van hul hoë sterkte, omgewingsvriendelike en hernubare bron, bied die moontlikheid om waarde toe te voeg tot die potensiële afvalproduk van Suid-Afrikaanse indringerbome. Hierdie materiaal, met sy voortreflike eienskappe, is gebruik in 'n verskeidenheid toepassings, insluitend hartkleppe, mikroelektroniese pompe en vloeibare kristal verskynings (LCD). In hierdie studie is CNC's verkry uit twee indringer hardehoutsoorte, naamlik acacia, eucalyptus vergelyk met CNCs wat van kommersiële sellulose geïsoleer is, met 'n onbekende houtbron en van Denne, 'n sagtehout. CNC's is gesintetiseer deur suur hidrolise en dan gekenmerk deur Fourier Transformeerde Infrarooi Spektroskopie (FTIR), X-Straal Diffraksie (XRD), Transmissie-elektronmikroskopie (TEM), Dinamiese ligverspreiding (DLS), Atomiese Krag Mikroskopie (AFM) en Differensiële Skandeering Kalorimetrie (DSC). Geen duidelike verskil is ondervind tussen hardehoutsoorte en sagtehout nie, en CNC's wat gesintetiseer is uit indringerboomspesies, is gevind dat dit soortgelyk is, indien nie beter nie, as CNCs uit kommersiële sellulose.
Description
Thesis (MScFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
Keywords
Cellulose nanocrystal, CNC, CNW, cellulose, South Africa, isolated, extracted, invasive, wood,, UCTD, Cellulose nanocrystals, Invasive species -- Wood, Liquid crystal displays, Infrared spectroscopy
Citation